World
Several People Killed and Injured After Driver Plows into Crowd at Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver
A tragic incident unfolded Saturday night at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, where a driver plowed into a crowd, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
According to preliminary reports, at least eight people, including a child, have been confirmed dead, and at least six others were critically injured.
Vancouver Police have not officially confirmed the final number of casualties but are expected to provide an update at a press conference scheduled for midnight local time.
Witnesses reported that a black Audi SUV drove through the crowded festival area around 8:00 p.m. near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street.
Festival attendees described scenes of panic and chaos, with people yelling, screaming, and rushing to escape the vehicle’s path as it struck vendors and pedestrians.
Vancouver Police confirmed that the driver responsible for the incident is in custody.
Authorities have yet to release a motive but noted that the suspect may have had prior interactions with law enforcement as recently as the day before the incident.
Sources also indicate the individual has a history of mental health challenges.
In a statement released Saturday evening, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy:
“We are shocked and saddened by this horrific incident at the Lapu Lapu Day event. Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available,” he said.
Deana Lancaster, a spokesperson for Vancouver General Hospital—the region’s top trauma center—confirmed that the hospital was receiving multiple patients from the scene.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the black SUV believed to have been involved in the attack, and festival attendees described the terrifying moments leading up to the crash.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information to contact Vancouver Police immediately.
Crime
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Created Mall Shooting Simulator in Roblox
Investigators and online researchers have identified a Roblox account allegedly linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the deadly mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
According to platform officials, the account was discovered by users on the internet forum Kiwi Farms, who reported that Van Rootselaar had created a game — referred to on Roblox as an “experience” — that simulated a shooting inside a shopping mall.
The virtual environment appeared to resemble a Canadian retail complex, although it has not been confirmed whether the design was intended to replicate a specific real-world location.
Videos circulating on social media prior to its removal showed a player-controlled character collecting weapons and firing into crowds of animated civilians within the mall setting.
The footage quickly drew widespread concern given the seriousness of the real-world attack.
Roblox confirmed that the account belonged to the suspect and announced swift action in response.
“We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect,” the company said in a statement. “We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.”
Initially, reports suggested the game remained accessible despite the account being deleted. However, Roblox later clarified that the content has now been removed from the platform.
The company also noted that the mall-themed experience was only accessible through Roblox Studio, a development application used by creators to build games, rather than through the main platform available to general users.
As a result, the experience reportedly recorded only seven visits, indicating extremely limited exposure.
Investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s digital footprint, including online posts and usernames believed to match across multiple platforms such as Reddit, where references to Roblox activity were also reportedly found.
Van Rootselaar is accused of carrying out the February 10 shooting that left eight people dead and at least 25 others injured at the secondary school.
Authorities have not indicated whether the online content forms part of the official investigative findings, but technology platforms are increasingly scrutinized in the aftermath of violent incidents for potential warning signs.
Officials emphasize that the broader investigation remains active as law enforcement works to establish a complete timeline, understand possible motives, and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.